Your migraine, cervical pain and insomnia could result from a bad bite

Portrait of sad mature woman sitting on couch at home and looking down and rubbing temples trying to calm herself, copy space

One of the most common problems in dentistry, an incorrect bite, can be the origin of problems as varied as bruxism, headaches, fatigue, joint disorders, cardiovascular and cervical problems, jaw pain, gingivitis, respiratory disorders, dental hypersensitivity, insomnia and even erectile dysfunction.

The conditions are so extensive that the dental sector is increasingly interested in seeking the remedy for something that seems simple: that a patient bites correctly, that is, that the lower jaw is aligned and fits with the upper one. In general, the solution to this problem involves ortho-dontics or dental orthopedics. However, a previous analysis is essential to determine what are the points where the contact between the teeth is not adequate. In addition to observation, radiographs are essential. The problem in this case is that the traditional occlusal adjustment systems were not able to show the intensity of the bite at each point, nor the moment at which the contact occurs, which gave incomplete information for the development of a treatment suitable. But technology is also advancing by leaps and bounds in the dental industry. Current scanners are capable of a dentist detecting both the intensity of the bite and the timing of such contact. In the Artedental clinic, in Puerto de la Cruz, they explain that these scanners “allow 2D and 3D visualisation of force dis-tribution, identify what neither the patient nor the experienced dentist can detect by traditional methods.” And in the dental industry, the technological leap is qualitative, and not only for malocclusion. CAD-CAM technology, for example, allows designing and creating customised prostheses in a completely mechanised process. Also, there is already technology capable of accurately describing the movements of the teeth and even the evolution of the mandibular bones, and 3D printers and scanners are inexorably making room in dental laboratories. The interest in developing solutions for malocclusion is fundamental. “Only 2% of the population has correct chewing, including patients treated with orthodontics, since not only the teeth but the temporomandibular joints, muscles and ligaments are involved. It affects the stability of natural teeth and their good prognosis, the durability of fillings, crowns, implants … ”, they explain from Artedental. “Its effects are very annoying and painful, and the variety of practically invisible devices or brackets that exist today in the market has contributed to adults deciding to undergo this treatment,” concludes Amaya Sáez, director of Artedental.